Apparatus for raising and locating submerged vessels



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,540

T. HODGES ET AL APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOCATING smamzaerm VESSELS Filed July 7, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor's. Thom/1s Ilaiqm nomuPowLvMMpes 3 w wa /Tl:

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Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,540

.T. HODGES ET AL APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOCATING SUBMERGED VESSELS Filed July 7, 1926 I I5 SheetsSheet 2 Thomas Hodges, nomsfobem 1mm Hayes '1 RymE/bdgg Per Atlame Sept; 25, 1928.

T. HODGES ET AL APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOCATING SUBMERGEP VESSELS Filed July 7, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet n b HIM/'1' E FZ mid/50 11 jllom 11.1

[mm 22mm Thor/2115 Hay s,

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Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

fuNi -Eo STATES PATIENT opm cg r mm nors, mm ROB RT L M HODQ ZS. ANDJEGSIIALD Rubens. or y V CALLESTICK, ENGLAND. r. V

APPAB A U FO R S N AN CATINZG'S BMEBGEI? VE SE S- Application flled July 7, 1926; Serial No. 121,009, and in Great Britain March 23, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in means for locating sunken vessels'and raising same. The apparatus is of the kind in which locating buoys are released from a a sinking ship and rise to the surface when the vessel sinks each of the'buoys being connected to the sunken ship by a cable. A rescuing or salvaging ship picks up the cable attached to each buoy and passes a shackle or the like down the cable which automatically secures itself'to thesunken. vessel. Each shackle'carries a lifting hawser by which the vessel may be raised.

According to our invention a vessel is pro- 'vided with two or more buoys which are normally deck. Each buoy is constructed with a central recess underneath, which fits over a bolliprd or like fitting when in place on the I F roni the underside of each buoy extends downward a short rod or shaftwhich passes through a central-tube in the bollard and through the-deck where it is' secured on the leased. to float to the surface it will carry withit one end of a cable, the other end being permanently attached to the ship. The releasing of the buoy is arranged to also release and raise a normallycollapsed mast carried on the buoy. As the mast moves to an upright position it-is caused to tear off the seal of a calcium light canister which will thus provide a light on the buoy when itreac'hes the surface. I

hen a cable connecting a buoy is picked up, a shackle or the like, carrying-a lifting hawser, placed thereon when it will drop down the cable.

bollard when it drops on the same/ In a preferred embodiment of our invent-ion the bollard is 'mounted in'a gimbal bearing' on the deck so that it can assume a vertiangle. The boll ard is provided with tour or more radial arms hinged to the bodyof the same. These arms are provided with hooked shaped ends and are forced outwardiy by suitably arranged springs. Extensions from the arms are arranged to engage against a ring or the like on the "bollard and limit their outward movement. a

, The shackle which slides down the buoy cal position should thevessel'be lying at an cable and engages over the 'bolla-rds may ed by spider arms formed with held on seatings on the vessels' Vhen the buoy is re- The shackle is provided with means wherebyit will lock itself to the consist of a central tubular member through which the cable passes and aframe connecta ring at its lower end. When the shackle fallson the bollard the shackle ring will force in the spring pressed arms on the bollard and after passing same the "said arms. will -be able to'move outagain and thus lock the'shackle to the bollard. The shackle where it en-. gages on the top ofthe bollard may be provided with a. number of triangular or othcr'shapcd project-ions'which willen "e similar shape projections on the top o t is bollard thus ensuring that the shackle ring correctly engagesthe bollard arms. The buoy, before releaseymay be provided with a watertight'seating on the vessels deck. The short rod or shaft from the buoy passably jointed so as to relieved of strain should the" buoy have much movement through a heavy sea and when it'reaches the surface.

the buoy isthrea ded "to receive a securing nut. The top portion of the nut may, be

formed as a cylindrical boss on-which is 'mounted a sleeve having a pair of trunnions.

On the top of the buoy-is mounted a telescopic mast which is arranged to be nor? mally held down horizontally on the buoy by the toplink of-the above mentioned links;

'ing through the bollard and deck, is prefer- The lower end of this rod from links which pass through thedeek of the vessel and up tothe top of'thebuoy,

This link may be arranged to engage in a slot provided in the top section of the'telescopic mast and cause the release of a flag contained therein as'the mast is released,

Vhen the mast is released by the withdrawal of the links caused by the movement of the pivoted arm engaging the sleeve on the buoy rod, the mast'is causedtoswing up to a Vertical positionand the telescopic sections opened out by spring means.

The mast in its horizontal position is'a'ttac'hed to the-seal of a calcium light canister so that as the mast is raised the canister will be opened and will thus 'producea light on p the buoy when it reaches the surface. The buoy may be provided around its circumference at or the top with spaced eye bolts V in which areliung a life line orlines for the use of any survivors in tl1e water;1

In order that our invention may beclearly understood and readily caried into effect we have appended hereto three sheets of-draw wings illustrating anembodiment of same Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing a" buoy and its associated parts in position on a vessel.

Fig. 2;shows.a buoy released. Fig. 3 shows n elevation a shackle for lowering: down the buoy cable and for engagement with the bollard.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the shackle. Fig. 5 is an elevation view having the shackle engaged over the bollard. v

Fig. 6 is a view illustratln'g the mechamsm.

detail viewot part ot hollow cylindrical metal body having a concentric. space 2 open atthe bottom. The

. buoy may be strengthened by internal webs or stays to enable it to withstand thepres' sure of water at certain depths. The space 2 accommodates the upper e d of a bollard 3 secured to the vessel.

. of the buoy 1 rests upon a circular bracket 5 the buoy. The rod 8 is preferably connected having a rubberstrip 6 he bollard 3 is provided with acentral bore 7 to receive a rod 8 the upper end of which is connected to a coupling member 9 securedto the buoy at a point on the axis of tothe member 9in auniversal manner as indicated at 10 to allow the buoy to move readily relative to'the rod 8 whenthe buoy is released and riding on the surface of the 'water. The lower end oft-he rod 8 is apertured, as indicated .at 11. to receive a suitable cable, and. a thread 12 is provided on thelower end of the rod 8 to;receive a nut13 which holds the rod 8, and consequently the buoyl, inposition on the vessel.. The buoy isreleased by unscrewing the nut 13.

The unscrewing of the nut 13 brings into "vertical position upon the top of the buoy a rma'st 1 1, which normally assumes the position shownin Fig. 1. This mast is formed of telescopic units which open out to their full extent automatically when the mast is released to assume the vertical position. This automatic extension of this mast can be effected by providing a coiled spring 15 inside the mast, such coiled spring being held under compression by pressing in the free end of the mast and engaging such free end of the mast or some other con-,

venient partof the mast with an abutment when it is in; the folded position. The mechanism torreleaslng the mast and bringing The annular base 4 it tothe vertical position consists of a coiled spring l6wvl1i'cl1 .is normally extended so that it has a tendency to contract and pull downwards the lower end of the mast 14 which: is pivotallysupported between a pair of brackets 17. The lower endrot the mast engages a movable abutment,.18, which is in the tormot'a cranked lever 19'fulcrumed M20, and having a pin" and slot connection 21 with a rod 22 whichextends downwards and is .pivotally connected to a'rod 23 slidable through asleeve or bush 24 secured to the vessel, the lower endof the rod 23'being pivotally connected by a link 25 to a horizontal arm 26. 1 v l Thearm 26 isipivotally supported by a fixed pivot pin 27 engaging in a slot 28, intor-mediate the ends of the arm." One end of the arm 26 is forked as at 29 to receive a lateral projection 30 carried by a collar 31 which is carried by the nut 13 but is held stationary'during the rotation of the nut with a consequent movement of the arm-26 against the influence of a coiled spring 32.

The bollard 3 is mounted in a gimbal bearing on the deck sothat it can be held in a verticalposition when the vessel assumes a position at an angle toits normal horizontal position. For this purpose a pair of bearing blocks 33 are provided upon diametri cally opposite'sides of the bollard and supported in these blocks is amember 34 free the bollard whichis supported by a pair of androtatably supportedin the collar 35. v

T O E I l' is provided ,with ,a number lateral pins .36 extending from thebollard of radial arms 37 pivotallysupported in a suitably strong-manner, for instance as indicated at 38, whereby they can move inwards against theinfluence of coiledsprings 39. 'The arms 37 are preventedirom move ing outwards beyonda predetermined point by an annular ring 40 carried by the bollard, I by means of radial brackets llintegral with the bollard, The arms 37 ;are formed with hook-shaped portions. 41. under which is Ills":

adaptedto be engaged the ring-like base 42 of a shackle 43 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5),'such shackle til'being lowered down the cable to which the buoy 1 is attached, when the buoy is released, whereby the shackle43 slips over the top of the bollard, and by reason of its 7 weight forces the arms 37 inwards, such arms returning to their normal position when the ring 42 of the shackle passes them so that they provide abutments 'for the base of the shackle when the hawser .44 carrying the shackle is pulled taut by the raising mechanism. i Y s i To indicate to thesalvageparty that the shackle 35 is properly engaged with the bollard, a buoyant object Q5 is released automatically consequent upon the engagement transmission of the movement of the link 47 eaamo of-the ring 42 withthe arms 37. This. can be effected by providing just beneath one of thehooksfitl ofone of the arms 37 a link 46 pivotally gaged by the ring 42 of the shackle l3, wherebythe link 46 is moved inwards with a consequentretraction of a slidable rod 48 against which the buoyant object is free to rise to the surface of the vwater. The

to the rod 48 is by means of av series of links {19 which operate toraisea depending rod50 thereby enabling a compressed coiled spring 51 to come into operation and move;

towards the bollard a rod 52 connected universally as at to the rod 48. The rod 552 and the spring ,51 operate inv a tubular portion of the gimbal element 34. To correctly position the shackle 4.3 upon 7 the bollard, the top of the-bollard is provided with a truncated conical extension 5% the upper end of which is formed with angular recesses 55 to receive triangularpro-. jections 56 depending from the collarjoi' constituting the upper end of the shackle. Spiders 58 connect the collar 57 to the ring Thebuoy may have cables59- secured around it by which survivors in thewwater can hold on. Suitable-calcium flares, or other illuminating means may be provided with the buoy 1 and the buoyant body 45.

The apparatus employed by our invention maybe of various sizes according to the size. of ship to which they are fitted and-information as to the size used may be painted on the buoy and flag so that a salvaging ship will know what size shackle to employ. For a small vessel such as a tug or submarine a bollard and buoy may be fitted atcach end of thesame, for larger vessels additional sets of buoys and their attendant parts will be requlred'.

-We -cla1m: v V i 1. Apparatus 'for' raising and locating submerged vessels comprising two or more bollards secured upon the, vessel, floats normally located, over said bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or its equivalent? attached to teach float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide tor lowering a shackle member into engagement .wlth

said bollard, means whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to the shackle to be utilized for raising the vessel, said float having a vertical rod attached'to itsnvertical axis and passingthrough said bollard, meansbeing provided for holding,

for engagement with said-rod the float inposition and for releasing same.

2. Apparatus for raising and bollards secured upon the vessel, floatsnorsupported at one endil'l'and lying across a point where it will beening a shackle member locating submerged vessels, comprising two ornmore' mally located over said' bollards mean'sf for relcasin V attached to. .each float, said cable. 7 adapted to be utilized as a guide for lower-' ing a shacklemember into engagement with saidbollard, means whereby the shacklecan automatically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to the submerged vessels, comprising two or more,

bollards secured upon the vessel, floats normallywlocated over said bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or lent attached to each float, said cable be- 'ing adapted to be utilized asaguide for into engagement lowering a shackle member with said bollard, means whereby the shackle can autou' atically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the likeco'nnected to the shackleto be utilized for raising the vessel, said float having a vertical rodattached to its vertical axis and passing through said v bollard, means being provided for engagement with said rod for holding the float in position and for releasingsame, said means for engagement with said rod said floats, a cable or its equivalent and passing through said mechanism for automatically releasing its equivafor holding the float in position being adapted to operate, simultaneously with the releasing of the float, mechanism for auto matically releasing to a vertical position 'a mast normally horizontallydisposed upon said float, the said rod con-nectedt'o the float having a nut threaded on to its lower end, such nutibeing adapted to be unscrewed from the rod to release the float, the movem'entyof such nut being adapted to impart movement to a lever connected by links to amovable abutment engaging part of said mast, a coiled spring norn'ially' under tension Y being connectedto said mast for raising it to t vertical position when said abutmentis moved away from the mast. i a

4. Apparatus for raising and locating submerged vessels, comprising two or more bollards secured upontlle vessel, floats normally located over said bollards, means for releasingsaid floats, acable or its equivalent attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilizedas a guide for lowerin'to engagement with said bollard,-means whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to said bollardto enable a hawser or the like connected to the ill! base'connected by vertical spiders to a com monle'lement adapted to receive a hawser,

" said shackle being adapted to receive'the' cable to which the float'is connected whereby the shackle can slide down the said 'cable' V i down the said-cable and be engaged with the locating and be engaged with the bollard.

'5. Apparatus for raising and submerged vessels comprising two or more bollards secured upon the vessel, floats each comprising a hollow body having a concentric recess to receive the upper end of a bollard, a cable attached to each float, said cable'being adapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a-shackle member into engagement with a bollard, means whereby the shackle can be automatically coupled to said bollard to enable a hawseror chain connected to the shackle to'be utilized for raising the vessel, each said shackle comprising a ring like base connected by vertical spiders to a common element adapted to receive a -hawser, said: shackle being adapted to receive the cable to which the float is connected whereby the shackle can slide down the said cable and be engaged with the bo'llardi 6. Apparatus for raising and locating sub- -merged vessels comprising two or 'more bollards, secured upon the vessel, floats each comprising a hollow body having a concentric recess to receive the upper end of a bollard,:i cable attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a shackle member into engage ment with a bollard, means whereby the shackle can be automatically coupled to said bollard to'-- enable a hawser or chain connected to the shackle to be utilized for raising'the vessel, each said shackle comprising a ringlike base connected by vertical spiders to a common element adapted to receive a hawser, said shackle being adapted to receive the cable to which 'the'float is connected whereby the shackle can slide down the said cable and be engaged with the bollard, said bollard having anuinber of substantially hook shaped radial arms held in a position extending from the'bollard by springs, the said shackle being adapted to slip ofl' said armsso as to be engaged under them when tension is applied tothe hawser connected to the shackle.

7 Apparatus forraising and locating submerged vessels comprising two or more bollardssecured upon the vessel, floats each comprising a hollow body having a concen-' tric recess to receive the upperend of a.

bollard, a cable attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide forlowering a shackle member into engagement with a bollard, means whereby the shackle can be-automatic'ally coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or chain connected to the'shackle'tobe utilized for raising the, vessel, each said shackle. compris' ing a' ring like base connected by vertical spiders to-a common element'adapted to re ceive a hawser, said shackle being adapted to receive the cable to which the float is connected whereby the shacklecan slide automatically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to the sha"kle to be utilized for raising'the' vessel, each said shackle comprising a a ring like base connected by vertical spiders to a commou element adapted 'to receive a hawser, said shackle being adapted to receive the cable to which the float is connected whereby the shackle can slide down the said cable and be engaged with I the bollard, the bollards being supported by gimbals which allow for a substantial universal movement of the bollard. I

9. Apparatus for the location and raising of submerged vessels comprising two or more bollards secured upon the vessel, floats normally located over said bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or its equivalent attached to each float, said cable beingadapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a shackle member into engage ment with said bollards, means ,whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to-said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to the shackle to be utilized for raising the vessel, means being provided for automatically releasing a buoyant object consequent upon the correct engagement of the shackle'with thebollard, substantially" as and for the purpose described. 7

10. Apparatus; ior raising and locating submerged vessels, comprising'two or more bollards secured upon th evessehfloats normally located oversaid bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or its equivalent attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a shackle member into engagementwithsaid bollard, means whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to the shackle to be utilized for raising the vessel, each said shackle comprising a ring like base connectedby vertical spiders to a common element adapted to receive a hawser, said shackle being adaptedto receive the cable to which the float is connected whereby the shackle can slide down the said cable and be engaged with the bollard, means being provided for automatically releasing a buoyant object consequent upon the correct engagement of the shackle with the bollard, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. Apparatus for raising and locating submerged vessels, comprising two or more bollards secured upon the vessel, floats normally located over said bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or its equivalent attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a shackle member into engagement with said bollard, means whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to said bollard to enable a hawser or the like connected to of the bollard, means being provided for automatically releasing a buoyant object consequent ,upon the correct enga ement of the shackle with the bollard, su stantially as and for the purpose described.

12. Apparatus for raising and locating submerged vessels, comprising two or more bollards secured upon the vessel, floats normally located over said bollards, means for releasing said floats, a cable or its equivalent attached to each float, said cable being adapted to be utilized as a guide for lowering a shackle member into engagement with said bollard, means whereby the shackle can automatically be coupled to said bollard I to enable a hawser or the like connected'to the shackle to be utilized for raising the vessel, said float having a vertical rod attached to its vertical axis and passing through said bollard, means being provided for engagement with said rod for holding the float in position and for releasing same,

means being provided for automatically releasing a buoyant object consequent 'upon the correct engagement of the shackle with the bollard, substantially as and for the pur- V pose described.

moms HODCES. moms ROBERT wuum HODGES. I REGINALD HODGES. 

